Sea Lice 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 3, 2010

VICTORIA, British Columbia's capital, will be the host city for the 8^th International Sea lice Conference, Sea Lice 2010. The sea lice conference series, which began in 1992, brings together international research groups, regulatory agencies, aquaculture industry and other interested groups to foster collaboration and communication on sea lice research.

The conference will be held at the Inn at Laurel Point, May 9-12^th, Victoria, BC and will also feature a workshop on mathematical modelling on May 12^th and 13^th.

The first conference in the series took place in Paris, France and then travelled to major cities in Europe including Trondheim, Amsterdam, Dublin and Aberdeen. In 2003 the conference was held in St. Andrews, Canada, and most recently is Puerto Varas, Chile in 2008 reflecting the global interest in sea lice biology and research and interest in sea lice management by veterinarians and aquaculturists. Victoria was chosen as the 2010 host city owing to the large body of knowledge from research in British Columbia. Through research programs at the University of BC, University of Victoria, Simon Fraser University, the Pacific Biological Station, Institute of Ocean Science, Pacific Salmon Forum and the Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences, BC has become a leader in sea lice research with many widely recognized fisheries and sea lice experts.

"We are very pleased with the level of interest in this year's conference from colleagues around the world," said Local Organising Committee and Co-Chair of the Scientific Review Committee Dr. Ben Koop, University of Victoria. "Registration numbers have exceeded our expectations".

Key note speakers include Dr. Geoff Boxshall, The Natural History Museum, London England; Dr. Tor Einar Horsberg, Norwegian School of Veterinary Science; Dr. Robert Poulin, University of Otago, New Zealand, and distinguished Fisheries and Ocean Canada scientist Dr. Richard Beamish, recipient of the Order of Canada and the Order of British Columbia for his contributions to fisheries science.

Themes that will be discussed at this year's conference include global perspectives, epidemiology and management, treatment resistance, genetics, physiology and functional biology, wild-farm fish interactions and mathematical modelling techniques. More than 80 presentations will be made from an estimated 150 scientists from around the world.

Additional Information about the conference can be found on the conference website at: www.sealice2010.com. Media inquiries can be directed to:

Dr. Ben Koop	Linda Hiemstra
University of Victoria	Mel Mor Science
(250) 472-4071	(250) 751-4862
Sea Lice 2010	Sea Lice 2010
Local Organising Committee	Local Organising Committee
Co-Chair, Scientific Review Committee	Conference Manager